In the heart of Belozem village, Rakovski Municipality – known as the European Stork Village since 2005 – one of the most exciting moments in the lives of young white storks has begun. This year, the young birds took their first flights, and thanks to modern technology, we will be able to follow every step of their development and their future journey.
Belozem is home to one of the most significant colonies of white storks in Bulgaria, with more than 40 breeding pairs returning to the village every year. During the current breeding season, experts from Green Balkans equipped three young birds from two stork nests located on the roof of “Prosveta 1909” Community Centre in the centre of the village with tracking devices.
Each bird was fitted with a GPS transmitter, which will allow specialists to monitor not only their future migration routes, but also the very first stages of their lives as independent birds – when they begin flying, which areas they explore, and how they gradually become familiar with the landscape around their birthplace.
In addition to the GPS devices, the young storks were also marked with special ELSA-type hexagonal rings, developed by the Max Planck Institute in Germany. These rings allow individual identification of the birds and contribute to long-term scientific research on the species.
During the past week, residents and visitors of Belozem witnessed a remarkable natural spectacle – the first flights of the young storks. The first to gather the courage to leave the nest was one of the chicks from the second nest, marked with ring number B0782. Its first flight took it to the main stork colony on the roof of “Geo Milev” Primary School, located on the opposite side of the Srebra River, which runs through the village. Only a few days later, the young stork made its first longer journey, leaving the boundaries of the village and reaching the agricultural fields in the western part of the surrounding area.
Soon, the other two young birds followed its example. The second chick from the same nest is gradually expanding its range, while still preferring nearby buildings around the community centre and the school colony. The third young stork, although it made its first flight slightly later, is already confidently visiting the fields northeast of the village.
These first flights mark only the beginning of a much longer journey. Thanks to GPS tracking, scientists will be able to learn more about the behaviour, survival, and migration routes of young storks – knowledge that is essential for the effective conservation of the species.
The marking of young white storks with GPS transmitters is carried out with the support of “FUTURE – You & The Planet”.
Belozem is home to one of the most significant colonies of white storks in Bulgaria, with more than 40 breeding pairs returning to the village every year. During the current breeding season, experts from Green Balkans equipped three young birds from two stork nests located on the roof of “Prosveta 1909” Community Centre in the centre of the village with tracking devices.
Each bird was fitted with a GPS transmitter, which will allow specialists to monitor not only their future migration routes, but also the very first stages of their lives as independent birds – when they begin flying, which areas they explore, and how they gradually become familiar with the landscape around their birthplace.
In addition to the GPS devices, the young storks were also marked with special ELSA-type hexagonal rings, developed by the Max Planck Institute in Germany. These rings allow individual identification of the birds and contribute to long-term scientific research on the species.
During the past week, residents and visitors of Belozem witnessed a remarkable natural spectacle – the first flights of the young storks. The first to gather the courage to leave the nest was one of the chicks from the second nest, marked with ring number B0782. Its first flight took it to the main stork colony on the roof of “Geo Milev” Primary School, located on the opposite side of the Srebra River, which runs through the village. Only a few days later, the young stork made its first longer journey, leaving the boundaries of the village and reaching the agricultural fields in the western part of the surrounding area.
Soon, the other two young birds followed its example. The second chick from the same nest is gradually expanding its range, while still preferring nearby buildings around the community centre and the school colony. The third young stork, although it made its first flight slightly later, is already confidently visiting the fields northeast of the village.
These first flights mark only the beginning of a much longer journey. Thanks to GPS tracking, scientists will be able to learn more about the behaviour, survival, and migration routes of young storks – knowledge that is essential for the effective conservation of the species.
The marking of young white storks with GPS transmitters is carried out with the support of “FUTURE – You & The Planet”.
